Ask Gus and Melly; Mewrio and Smash Burrow Characters

 

Melanie: Daisy in pretty much any Mewrio game you can play her in. Zero Suit Samoose up until they brought Daisy in as more than just a Peach Palette swap. Also Jigglypuff and Ganonhorse.

Gus: I usually play the Werio brothers in any of the Mewrio titles I can play him in. Sometimes Donkey Kong. And in Smash I tend to main Star Fox...or Falco...or Wolf...

Melanie: Ugh, with no items, on final destination every time or you whine...

Gus: *Is clearly flustered* H-Hey! Cut me some slack...it's like, the one fighting game I'm good at, so I take it more seriously! *Scoffs* Like you have room to judge me!

Melanie: Smash Burrows is designed not to be taken seriously! *Laughs* It's not King of Fighters or Marvole Versus Catcom, it's meant to be goofy and lighthearted...

Gus: If that was the case you wouldn't be able to shut items off! And hey, they added that whole 'omega mode' that gets rid of stage gimmicks for a reason!

Melanie: All I'm saying is if you take it so seriously, maybe you should take it to an official tourney rather than take it out on the rest of us! *Laughs* Unlike me, the only thing keeping you out of those tourneys is lack of confidence!

Vernon: What's keepin' ya'll out of 'em?

Melanie: The stench...Seriously, I don't know what it is with Pro-smash Burrows players and finding the concept of personal hygiene entirely foreign to them. *Melanie visibly cringes* Gah, the last time Gus hosted a tourney here I couldn't even come downstairs, let alone anywhere near the game room. *Shakes head* There was this one skunk player, I sweat by Cervidwen's hooves, his stink gland must have not only been intact but hanging out into the seat of his pants like a hemorrhoid. *Melanie retches*

Gus: Yeah that..I had to ask half the players to leave...and it took three days to air out the back room. Still...I only really want to play with my friends...not professionally.

Melanie: Then stop forcing us to make it professional.

Joel: *Snorts* He just wants to be the big fish in the small pond. He revels in holding the victories over us...same thing with Humon's battles...he always took it so seriously.

Gus: I just played with my favorites!

Joel: And was it a coincidence that your favorite Humons always were the ones with the best in game stats, with perfect EV/IVs and nature combos? 

Gus: Y-Yes! I Ju-!

Joel: You even stopped liking certain Humons the moment they'd get nerfed...

Gus: I swear on Cervidwen's Hooves-Look, it's just a coincidence!

Vernon: Now y'all know why I started refusin' to play with him unless it was co-op when we was teens...*Snickers* Turns out you and Melly ain't too different after all...

Gus: *Crosses arms, letting out a huff* Okay, but when I lose a game, at least I don't yank the fight stick out of the cabinet, and try to bludgeon Kodi's Sister with it! 

Melanie: *Narrows gaze, looking miffed, although slightly hurt.* Hey! I told her not to keep picking Big Lamb! He's a Boss character! It's not fair! *Snorts* That was a cheap shot...

Gus: Replacing the arcade cabinet's fight stick wasn't cheap, that's for sure!

Ask the Ruminerds; Royal Blue Book 1

 

Broomie: I don't really go for westerns...

Gus: *Laughs* Then you aren't gonna like the next campaign I'm cooking up...as it's set in the Royal Blue universe...

Joel: *Tch!* Dude, can you at least wait until the guy finishes his trilogy series before dropping us in the setting based on his books?  I'm not looking forward to mid-arc plot adjustments to account when the next book in the series drops!

Gus: It's not like we're playing mains! *Laughs*

Dawn: Honestly, it was super flattering to hear the author of the series had loosely based two of his titular characters on Vernon and myself...

Vernon: Less so that he made the fella based on me help a vixen commit adultery...even if he wasn't 'with' his mate at that point...

Dawn: *Snickers* Puppy... I did use the phrase 'Loosely based on' for a reason.

Melanie: *Chuckles* I actually low-key love Widow Farrowfaighle. And it's not like Rowan cheated on Dolly...he was trying to run away from her so Dolly could have the life he thought she deserved. 

Gus: But all she wanted was him.

Melanie: And no matter how hard he tried to push himself away from her, no one else could ever be her. It's actually very sweet.

Joel: I'm kinda low-key hoping Dolly gets 'the consumption' too so Rowan ends up with Widow Farrowfaighle...

Vernon: JOEL!

Joel: *Shrugs* What? They have better chemistry. They'd make a badass bounty Hunter power couple. Besides, she's already having his kit! *laughs* I can totally picture her with a hybrid wolf pup in one arm and a double-barrel shot gun in the other. *Joel mimes the pose he's describing, pretending to let off a round.*

Melanie: Funny, I'm hoping O'dran dies. I hate that character archetype. Even if they keep hinting at his o' so tragic puphood.

Megumi: Rut you! I love O'dran. I've been shipping him and Allana since that whole bit with the illusion beer!

Gus: You'll have to excuse Melly, she's not a fan of any character in the series who dumps on her precious wooby widdle owl boy Garret...

Melanie: Garret is a precious little wooby boy, and I'm not ashamed to admit I love him.

Gus: I gotta admit, I do love Garret and Rowan's buddy cop movie dynamic. *Laughs*

Dawn: I'd be lying if I said I didn't like the O'dran and Allana ship myself *Giggling* There's something kinda cute about the tough little bunny taming a burly, prideful, fancies himself a ladies mam' type of fella who thinks he's untamable...even if he's a little speciest...*Giggles* And for the record, I also think Dolly and Rowan's dynamic is adorable...

Joel: That's bias right there...*Laughs*

Vernon: I mean, look at the end of the day I ain't gonna get all twisted over somethin' fictional....I am flattered. But the fact the fella really did a great deal of research on me and Dawn a'fore building Rowan and Dolly up...Like it makes it a little to...uncomfortably close to the genuine articles in a way that I guess makes me take the the affair thang a lil' personally.

Gus: What, he read 'Predator seeking Prey'?

Vernon: Not just that, he dug into our family histories all over the place...includin' The Blackwool's in Scotram, The Norwulff Düclaws, and a whole bunch of Hunter relatives scattered all over North Mammalia. *Chuckles* Even my Pa's study is mostly made up o' stuff that came over from Norwulff, and stuff that was written by those who stayed in Zootopia, with a stray series of letters here and there from the Hunter's that spread out. I actually learned more about the Hunter's that settled down in the Mesa Valley Federation durin' the actual Wild West era through one of the author's interviews than I ever learned about it from my folks.

Dawn: The same interview where he explained that Rowan and Dolly are sort of a mash-up of not only us, but Lady Blackwool and Erik...as well as several other ancient Hunter relatives rumored to have kept sheep wives?

Vernon: *Shakes head* We can thank Ulric fer that' one I guess...Once he blew the lid off of Lady Blackwool and Erik's little pack, Norwulff dropped a whole lot of...censored history once the cat was out of the bag...that's how I found out it seems like there's always a Hunter er' Düclaw, at least in every three generations, that has a cravin' fer mutton over a she-wolf. And...I ain't proud to admit that not every one o' them stories were examples of a star-crossed lovers sorta thang...

Dawn: Between the much earlier ancestor in the Düclaw's lineage who couldn't bear pups due to an injury early in life deciding to take on a harem of captured ewe wives, each taken from every invasion of Scotram he was a part of. To the sheriff of 'Tumbleweed Flats' in the Mesa Valley Federation who for all intents and purposes was an honored and beloved sheriff, but was also rumored to be frequenting the local ewe brothel fairly regularly late into the evenings...and the rumors made it very clear he had a favorite ewe...but yes, not every tale from the Hunter/Düclaw lineage was...well...'wholesome'.

Joel: Oh yeah, I remember that guy...Ur? Or Fjor? Wait...no, Fenrir...named after the god. Yeah, the most hilarious part of that story was that the ewe's quickly grew attached to him, and accepted all being his wives...And the rest of the pack looked the other way because he was their best warrior.

Melanie: Hilarious...if not a little messed up.

Vernon: Knowin' that I'm part of that character's DNA, along with the other more questionable Hunter's...I....well I don't love it...

Dawn: *Chuckles, giving Vernon an affection pet on his paw.* Oh Puppy, it's not like my widespread family history was much better...and I'm sure that extends to everyone here's history if you dig far enough back...besides, it's all made for very compelling characters. At the end of the day, we aren't Rowan and Dolly.

Kodi: Good thing too, otherwise you'd have to worry about that 'only She-wolves can really keep a male wolf' thing. *Laughs* The gods know we're sexual tyrannosaurs!  

Val: Hey, you know that's true Fluff...granted, foxes are even worse...hence how I can keep up with you. *Laughs*

Vernon: *Scoffs* Tell me the author of the story ain't a wolf without tellin' me he ain't a wolf directly.

Melanie: *Giggles* Oh come on, it's treated as a stereotype in the books anyway. No need to get your hackles up Vernon.

Gus: Jeeze, if I knew you were gonna get this twisted over fictional characters that were more or less inspired by you and your mate because he was such a fan of yours, I wouldn't have started crafting a campaign in the setting.

Dawn: Incidentally...I should point out he probably listens to our podcast Vernon...he's more than likely going to hear this...

Vernon: *Tenses up, his ears sagging sharply* I uh...I mean, I'm sorry! It's really flatterin'! Honest! 

Joel: Excellent save...*Chuckles* Not clumsy in the slightest.

Dawn: Please get in touch with us, we'd love to talk to you, and maybe I could send you a signed copy of our book? At least until the Roaropean book tour gets off the ground and we could meet in person!

Joel: Farrowell....Howellofaighle?

Vernon: Joel...*The wolf grumbles*

Joel: Okay, okay, how about we take a page from ol' Fenrir then? Farrowellpard? Shepowefaighle?

Vernon: Sweet sawgrass Joel enough!

Joel: At least give me a catfight in book two, that's all I'm asking for! For Kuzco's sake...maybe I should ship O'dran and Farrahfaighle...have the ol' buff blaggart step up to the plate a-.

Vernon: NO!

*Vernon's sharp exclamation draws the gaze of the entire group, Dawn tilting her head as she squints up at her mate with suspicion. Vernon starts sweating, rubbing the back of his neck in clear discomfort as he averts his gaze.*

Vernon: I mean...er...look...that fella is the last character who should be rasin' a pup...let alone Rowan's pup...i-it's a parentin' thang...not a...er...stakin' claim thing...

Joel: *Snickers* Shepowefaighle it is eh Fenrir?

Vernon: *Growls* Shut up Joel...er' I'll make y'all eat yer hat...

Ask the Ruminerds; Swimsuit Ratings

 

Gus: Did you expect anything else?

Joel: Really, 11?

Gus: What? It's better...it's an A plus.

Joel: That's the point of 10, remember? To keep the scoring consistent! Ten is supposed to be the top score.

Gus: *Pauses, looking as though he's deep in thought for a moment.*

Gus: Yeah... but 11 is one bigger...y'know?

Broomie: *Rolls eyes* Lot of effort there for a bad Spiral Tap reference...

Gus: Eh, you miss one hundred percent of the shots you don't take...

Ask Megumi and Joel; Kaiju Stuff

 

Megumi: Some, not all. I'm not a super fan like my father was, but I have some favorites. I've got a real soft spot for Gamera and Mothra films..even if they are...production is humorously low, if that's how you say it?

Joel: Those Mothra movies were pretty awful...

Megumi: *Puffs her cheeks in clear irritation* Awfully amazing you mean! I love Mothra...

Joel: I just think the Gamera movies are more...well I definitely laughed harder at them...especially that one where he plays the xylophone on that one monster's back, and plays his own theme song. *Snickers*

Megumi: *Snickers* Yes...well I'll admit that is funny...but I can't help liking Mothra, I liked butterfly-like creatures since I was a cub.

Joel: And that's why you have the biggest Mothra plush I've ever seen, even bigger than your body pillows.

Megumi: *Huffs* My Dad got that for me...it helps remind me of home when I'm staying here...

Joel: Speaking of, to correct the person asking I'm not living in Japanda full-time. Even though we've grown pretty serious we...well, I mean...

Megumi: We both have family and friends we're not quite ready...well we aren't cutting them from our lives, but settling down in one place on either side limits how often we get to see them.

Joel: So we basically visit each other for... *Joel lolls his head and lingers, clearly estimating a timetable* Let's say about two months at a time, where either I'm staying with Megumi in Japanda, or she's staying with me in Zootopia.

Megumi: It's not the cheapest solution...but for the time being it's what works best for both of us.

Joel: That said, in the days of the internet, there's really no need to be in Japanda to fully engross yourself in kaiju stuff. But Kaiju stuff was just never all that big for me compared to super sentai or giant mech Animalme's. 

Megumi: You liked Jet Jaguar.

Joel: *Chuckles* Yeah, I do like Jet Jaguar. 

Ask the Ruminerds; People of Weirdopolis

 

Vernon: Sweet sawgrass son...y'all are firin' such a scattershot in terms of who yer lookin' to answer questions I'm thinkin' we're gonna need to rent a stadium just to get all the answers...*Chuckles* Might as well just ask the city at this point.

Dawn: *Pats Vernon's paw affectionately* Puppy, be nice...

Vernon: I am, I'm just kiddin'...*Laughs*

Dawn: Anyway, we were happy to answer your questions. We do our best to try and answer everyone who messages us to the best of our abilities, and your line of questions about your work and writing plans has been particularly engaging.

Gus: Especially to those of us who are...well...

Melanie:  Nerds. *Snickers*

Gus: Right, I was looking for a nicer term there...but...eh. *Shrugs*

Dawn: That said, we'll probably keep this question strictly among us Ruminerds, for convenience and simplicities sake.

Vernon: So with that cleared up, we'll answer yer new question...

Dawn: Well first off I want to compliment his character design. It's a really cool mashup of elements from those characters...

Broomie: I ain't gonna complain...I loved Hellboar and Savage Dragon...Also got a little Etrigan the Demon vibes off of your design. 

Gus: Going for the deep cuts huh? *Chuckles*

Broomie: Entrigan the Demon is not a deep cut...the dudes showed up in cartoons...he's not 'the brick wall', 'Egg Fur', or gods tremble, 'Snowfang'...

Joel: Isn't that the cat who got his powers by doing like toad drops...or coca leaves?

Broomie: Coca leaves. Yeah, he got high and fought crime...it's nuts...

Joel: At least none of those are dabbling in out there fetish territory, which I would probably stress you shouldn't even dip your hooves-I mean-paws, into that kind of territory even as a gag. 

Gus: You talking about the blueberry thing?

Joel: *nods briskly* Trust me, you don't want to open that door even a crack, lest all the weirdos will come out of the woodwork with requests...

Megumi: Takes a pervert to know a pervert huh? *Giggles*

Vernon: No, Joel is speakin' from experience...I remember him fallin' down a 3D modelin' rabbit hole involvin' those folks with a Wonkat Blueberry fetish.

Megumi: *Surprised, glances at Joel* Woah, what is this?

Joel: *Snorts* I was young, I wasn't familiar with the idea that literally any weird thing could be a fetish and someone wanted a model of their character as a blueberry ball like in the movie...

Gus: And he took the job thinking it was just for a gag...

Joel: Once it went out on my work pages, all the weirdos started skittering out of the shadows asking me for increasingly twisted fetish models. *Spits and snorts in clear irritation* 

Gus: Hey Joel! C'mon Mam' we talked about the spitting! At least use a damn cup!

Joel: Sorry, sorry! I just still get heated thinking about it...Anyway, about three commissions in I discovered the fetish and it made my wool feel like it was crawling with nits...I had to shut my store for a while, crop up a list of 'I won't do this' catch-alls for my commission page and wait until the messages trickled to nothing before starting to work again...

Broomie: I'm surprised you have standards...*Chuckles*

Joel: Hey, I specialize in cake and giant robots, things you can actually rut and cool stuff...that other stuff is too far even for me...though I will admit some of the offers were tempting...were talking triple or even quadruple my usual rate...and this is back when I was seventeen...

Vernon: But ya didn't?

Joel: I wasn't sure if I'd ever be able to feel clean again if I went down that path...

Megumi: Well...relative clean-ness yes?

Vernon: Anywho...er...I'm not sure what I'd suggest...my mind first went to like...creatures outta fables but I thought that might be too... close to that comic series from a little while ago...

Broomie: Wolf Among Us?

Vernon: That's the one!

Joel: Tulpa-ish things would be cool...although I guess that's borderline what your other book is...

Gus: Tulpa?

Joel: Something you imagine that becomes real...

Gus: Ah...

Gus: How about aliens...but specifically the aliens that all the abduction stories are about...the greens.

Joel: Oh yeah, but like specifically not outer space aliens, but our weird perception of them...right down to being obsessed with rectal probing.

Melanie: I feel like that's drifting back into fictive territory. *chuckles* And fetish territory for that matter.

Dawn: Shadowmammals, pelt wearers, maybe creatures that see themselves as ancient gods...but it's questionable as to whether or not they are or were...

Vernon: Those all sorta border on cryptids, don't they?

Dawn: True, true...Mutton chops! this is harder than I thought it would be.

Gus: Oh, continuing that theme...how about all the terrible knockoff cryptids that we see as obvious fakes...Like the Mawlaysian mermaid, the fur trout, or even the Jackalope.

Joel: The Lepridchaun, but looking exactly like the amateur sketch from that one meme...

Gus: Right!

Melanie: *Giggles* That'd be hilarious, like some sort of cryptid island of misfit toys...

Broomie: You could also throw in some stuff in the vein of those SCP things...not direct copies, but stuff inspired by them.

Dawn: Ohh, those are fascinating...Edi got me to read quite a few of them and I'm honestly tempted to throw my own entry in and see if it would get approved...Anonymously of course.

Broomie: Why anonymously?

Dawn: I'd like to get approved or denied on the story's merits alone, and not by name. at the very least it's a good way to take a stab at some sci-fi horror and see how it is received.

Joel: How bout...randomly animate objects...?

Gus: What do you mean?

Joel: Well, you know how mammals lose all sorts of small stuff, like sole pads and keychains and so on...historically that stuff has been attributed to like...borrowers. But what if it was just cases of literally someone's left sole pad coming to life for no reason and running off?

Megumi: That's actually a good one I think. Very creative!

Vernon: A good one to end on too I think...we've been chatterin' about this fer a while, and the longer this goes on, the longer my Honey Lamb's gotta play stenographer.

Melanie: I still don't know how you manage to type so fast Dawn...it's practically blinding...

Dawn: *Giggles* I am a ewe who wears many hats.

Ask the Ruminerds; Life in Fictionpunk

Vernon: It's alright...a question like that was just a little earlier in the evenin' then we were mentally prepared to tackle.

Dawn: *Snickers* Yes, you should hear the crazy topics our little BnB group gets into during particularly long sessions.

Vernon: All the sugar, and dependin' on who's playin', a splash er' two of rum starts to kick in by the evenin', and a'fore you know it Broomie starts theorizin' about darker secret meanin's to pup cartoons, er' Gus starts ponderin' about what if somethin' like the Tauros Snap happened but it was on the other side of the universe, so we had no knowledge o' why half the population disappeared. 

Gus: Hey, I think that idea is way more fascinating to think about than the movies! They barely even went into how Animalia as a whole managed to adjust to half of life on the planet just being vaporized for five years! A real missed opportunity for interesting storytelling if you ask me.

Dawn: It is, but to be fair that question has come up a lot in different forms. Basically, imagine something unimaginable happens, that we don't understand and probably never will...like time stopping, or physics breaking down...

Vernon: At least those don't get as vicious as arguin' which franchise er' character is overrated...oh and ferget the topic of best gals in a series...*Vernon quirks a brow as he side eyes Dawn, chuckling softly.* Best guys from a series too fer that matter...

Dawn: That was only one time! *Huffs and puffs her cheeks in a pout.* Besides...I've learned since then that arguing with Melanie is a bad idea...I really didn't expect her to put me in a headlock because I thought Draco Mayfly came off as too creepy to be sexy in the Harry Otter movies.

Gus: *Laughs* Melly was hard-core into the dark, brooding guy archetype in junior high and high school. And while she's mostly moved past that...it's still baked into some of her choices in fictional Husbands, and she's sensitive about that...Besides...Ron Weasely?

Dawn: *Clearly flustered* H-he was nice...A total goof but nice! I haven't found myself crushing on a weasel before or since...b-but I liked his personality! 

Gus: Still, a terrible hill to even try and die on...*Mutters quietly* Especially considering you basically married a Hogrid...*Chuckles*

Vernon: *Rolls his eyes* Regardless, we're gettin' off topic. Keepin' Mr. Laughfin' waitin'...

Gus: 'Lawf'-lin.

Vernon: Right...right...

Dawn: In terms of writing, I haven't really...I haven't designed a character that was a writer like myself. Unless the autobiography I wrote about myself and Vernon would count as creating fictives...

Vernon: Well at that point then we'd just be dealin' with clones...

Dawn: So in terms of myself and my fiction...or...realistically multiple fictives, we certainly wouldn't be sharing jobs.

Vernon: Same here, as I haven't worked on any 'architect' characters...though I figure, even if I did, that wouldn't mean y'all suddenly take up a buncha' co-workers...In fact, that influx of new folks would probably strain the job market somethin' fierce fer quite a while...as well as other resources...

Gus: *Chuckles* Ironically this is sort of a reverse of the Tauros Snap question...

Dawn: Admittedly, I don't think I could go on being a writer in that scenario either unless I stuck to strictly non-fiction narratives and retellings.

Gus: Why is that? 

Dawn: Because if I wrote fiction it would be...depending on how this all worked, writing the book on a fictional topic would be the same as just flippantly deciding to give birth to possible multitudes of mammals all at once. Mammals who will find themselves in an unfamiliar world, unsure of how to adapt and fit in.

Gus: Ooh, that is actually a good point...even worse if just thinking of a character is enough to bring them to life... rather than having to commit them to a story or drawing...

Dawn: *Twiddles her hooves together nervously.* The cud is rising in my throat just thinking about that...*Shudders* 

Vernon: *Places a reassuring paw on his mate's shoulder.* Thankfully it's only a hypothetical here Darlin', no need to get anxious over it...

Dawn: *Wipes the sweat from her brow* Right, well needless to say I would more than likely hang up the pen and pad for the rest of my life in that world. I don't think I'd be too keen on taking the chance.

Gus: So what would you do?

Dawn: Well, my existing residuals from my current books would do well to keep us afloat.

Vernon: And iffin' anything I'd still have my job, which would be more important than it's ever been with all the fictions lookin' fer homes.

Dawn: Still, I'd feel obligated to help out both Vernon and my own creations, as in a way they would be like...well our lambs. So I'd probably take a page from your 'Dolly Lambchops' character. Except my tenets would pretty much be solely my and Vernon's creations...

Vernon: Even with yer residuals and my job, I ain't sure we could swing somethin' that steep fer a long-term thang.

Dawn: Well they could help out once they get on their hooves...but we'd have to find some way to help them regardless...they didn't ask to be brought into our world, that would fall solely on us...we can't just turn our backs on them...

Vernon: Maybe the therapist thang ain't a bad angle then...y'all could be a therapist and a landlady...though between the two of us we've probably created so many characters y'all would be booked end to end with non-payin' clients...cause I'd assume you'd take care of our's fer free...

Dawn: *pressed her muzzle into a balled hoof.* Hmm...it's a tough puzzle that's for sure...maybe...Hmm...but I guess at the end of the day, I trust we would find a solution to housing and caring for our fictives...sometimes the obvious answer only hits you when the pressure is on...

Gus: And if all else fails, just write them out of existence, problem solved!

Dawn: Lamb Sakes Gus! You can't do that!

Gus: *Chuckles* I know, I know...still, it would be one of the first times in mammalian history you could threaten someone with 'I brought you into this world, and I can take you out of it', and actually be able to back that up. *Snickers*

Ask the Ruminerds; The New Pokemammal Animalme

Vernon: Sweet Sawgrass...I watched that show so damn long ago it's nothin' but a hazy memory at this point...

Dawn: Right? I was actually kinda shocked it was still even airing, let alone had been since we were little. I didn't find out until we had just adopted Edi and Ali, like during the first week. He was watching cartoons and I saw one of the more recent episodes in the series...I couldn't believe they still had the same main character.

Gus: Gods, it's really weird to think about...Like Vern and I were like...what kids? We hadn't even met when Pokemania kicked off...

Vernon: I was super into it though...had the games, some plushes some tradin' cards, and I watched the show religiously...

Gus: Same...

Melanie: I think that goes for everyone here really...

Dawn: Less so for me...I did get to play some games but my father was...very on top of my TV time when he was...sober...*Dawn winces* 

Vernon: *Hugs the lamb sitting in his lap, nuzzling against her head poof.* Aww...Darlin'...

Dawn: It's fine...*The ewe reaches up, patting Vernon's cheek affectionately as she nuzzles back.* I did watch a little bit...mostly on the days when his hangover was so strong it kept him bedridden for most of Saturday morning...

Vernon: It ain't much consolation, but I abandoned most of my Pokemammal stuff when I started my...well, when went through my rough patch...Didn't pick up the games again till Gus and me met.

Gus: *Laughs* Glad I made you play Silver even though we were up to Diamond and Pearl by then. It was up to that point, what I considered the best one in the series. Couldn't have my best bud miss out.

Vernon: *Snickers* Yeah I remember...you made me catch up on a lot o' 'gamin' homework' once we became friends...

Gus: Hey it may have only been a few years, but you missed out on some great stuff! It was important in order to properly induct you into true nerd culture!

Joel: I still can't believe it though...like...It's like the Stompsons or Furmaly Guy...It had been running for so long you'd just think it was going to go on forever. *Shrugs* I mean technically it still is...But I just figured Ash Scratchum' would endure forever, y'know?

Gus: Truly the end of an era...

Dawn: It makes me feel old, that's for sure...*The ewe grips her upper arms, rubbing them briskly*.

Vernon: Yep, it only gets worse from here...er' so my Pa tells me... Can't wait till some newfangled tech comes out that completely baffles us, then I'll really feel ancient.

Melanie: Ugh...just the idea of that made me feel my bones crumble to dust inside of me...*Shakes head*

Joel: Gotta pour one out for old Ash. *Begins to pour out his Mountain Ewe* Godspeed young traveler...you were never a pokemammal master in your show, but you were the pokemammal master of our hearts...

Gus: DUDE! NOT ON THE RUG!! *Gus snorts*I LITERALLY HAD THE FLOOR CLEANED LAST WEEK!

Found Ask; Marcus and Aiko the Duelet-ists

 

Megumi: If you please, I wish to...say something, but I worry it might...upset some of you? Is it okay? 

Zach: *Looks to Vanna uneasily* W-Well...

Lucero: You are among company that doesn't balk at much Miss Gomipa, I doubt you will offend anyone present. 

Joel: You haven't heard her when she's mad...*Chuckles* She swears like a sailor.

Megumi: *Huffs* I'm not cursing Baka! I just mean that my Animanglish isn't the best, and well, I do not want to make uncomfortable Marcus' parents.

Vanna: *Winces slightly* I'm sure it's fine Megumi...please...

Megumi: Well...my family has always been very...passionate? Is that the right word? 

Joel: *Nods*

Megumi: Emotional too. Rageful energy is sort of...directly intertwined with love, and it mani- mani-...Manifestos?

Joel: Manifests. Spree killers write manifestos.

Megumi: Ah, right...my point is, we Gomipa's are prone to passionate displays, and getting worked up in regards to competing with those we care deeply for...It is like a flirt...

Zach: *Winces* So yer sayin' that...

Megumi: Aiko must really have a strong crush on your son to show him such a raw, passionate side of herself...it was the same with me and Joel, and it was the same with my parents who met at a trading card dueling tournament. When we have a crush...that crush can draw the fire out of us so strongly it's amazing we don't simply burn away...

Lucero: *Chuckles softly* That's probably one of the most adorable things I've ever heard...

Pascha: It really is cute. *Cooes in delight*

Megumi: The fact that she can bring that out of him too...the way they perform with one another...it's just, it is evident to everyone. 

Joel: Even if they aren't aware of it...

Megumi: *Swoons slightly* Just like a classic Animalme...Cubhood friends growing up together, growing closer, all without realizing just what those building feelings are despite everyone around them being so aware...ahh...Kawaii...

Zach: *whines* Alright, I don't think I wanna hear anymore! *turns to leave*.

Vanna: *Places a paw on Zach's shoulder to stop him.* Zach...Please...

Zach: What, I don't have to listen to this! *huffs, crosses his arms* Why can't they just be friends, huh!? Why is everyone so determined to fix 'em up?!

Pascha: Zach, dear, you know that not a one of us intends to try and force something that isn't there...but...

Zach: But what!? *huffs* 

Lucero: If you can't see it, you are being willfully blind my son. Whether it means they will go on to date, or agree to remain friends, there are clear feelings there that they need to address...

Zach: B-But-!

Megumi: Excuse me, but you do not have a problem with your son dating beyond his species, yes?

Zach: Pff-Wha?! O' course not, that's rid-!

Megumi: Red Pandas then? Perhaps you do not like them?

Zach: I AIN'T SPECIEST!

Megumi: Then what is the problem?

Zach: I jus-! I-! *Zach's ears sag as the wolf lets out a defeated whine* I...I've barely gotten a chance to be Marcus' Pa...and he's growin' up so quick...and I...

Vanna: Goofball? 

Zach: *Whines* Zach datin' is the start of him...really growin' up...and movin' on and out of our lives...*Sniffles* A'for long he ain't gonna have any use fer his 'ol 'mam...I'll just be gettin' in the way... *Zach leans into Vanna's side, whining*

Vanna: *kneels, wrapping Zach in her arms and nuzzling gently against his head fur.* Zach....is that what this is all about?

Zach: *The wolf whimpers* I-I mean I stand by what I said about not...forcin' stuff...what'll happen between them two will happen...but...fer the most part...I just...*sobs* I've just barely gotten to know my son, he's just finally gettin' comfortable bein' a Hunter and now...iffin' he starts datin' it's just...the beginnin' of us all driftin' apart...

Lucero: *Walks over, placing a paw on Zach's shoulder and drawing the wolf's attention* Zach, just because Marcus is growing up, doesn't mean he'll love you any less...

Pascha: *Joins her mate, wrapping an arm around Lucero's waist.* And he'll certainly want and need you in his life just as much, if not more as he grows...and if our family, as well as the Hunter pack is any indication, he will always be close with you, Vanna, and the rest of us.

Megumi: First love is a very hard part of life...he will need your advice now more than ever Zach. Even I, as an adult, still go to my parents when need advice on my relationship with Joel.

Joel: And I'd do the same if I knew my actual parents...still my aunt makes a pretty good surrogate. She will always be the mother that raised me, and I will always be tight with her...womb to the tomb mam'...

Zach: *Offers a weak smile, pawing at his eyes...* Y-y'all think so?

Vanna: *Grasps Zach's Muzzle and draws it to face her, looking into Zach's eyes and flashing him an affectionate smile* I know so...

Zach: *Sniffles harshly before giving Vanna a kiss* O-okay....I-I ain't over it...but...th-that helps...th-thanks Kitten...

Vanna: You're welcome Goofball...and you know I'll be by your side to listen, and help you get through this...

Zach: *Hugs Vanna tightly* A-And I'll be by yer side too Darlin'...we're in this together...

Megumi: All this said...have you had that...talk with Zach yet? 

Zach: *Pales slightly* Well I-...

Lucero: Considering how close they got during their last 'Duelet', it might be best to cover that sooner rather than later...

Joel: The chance for hybridism between them is probably super low, which is even more of an incentive to have lots of unprotect-.

Zach: OKAY! *Zach stands up again, and begins to bolt* NOW I'M REALLY DONE WITH THIS CONVERSATION! *The wolf takes off, bolting out the front door of the ranch.

Vanna: *Stands up, and begins chasing after her mate.* ZACH, WAIT! *Stops at the screen door and glares back at the others.* Thanks for that by the way, he was actually calm for a few seconds there before you put the fear back into him...*Shakes head and leaves*

*Lucero and Pascha flash Joel a soft, but judgemental glare*

Joel: *Rolls his eyes* Oh come on, he's a teenager! We all know how teenagers think!

Ask the Ruminerds: Musical Energy P1

 Vernon: I mean...it depends I guess...sometimes at work even a real toe-tapper ain't enough to make the work feel like less of a drag...

Dawn: Is that usually when you have to prepare for a presentation...

Vernon: * Groans* yeah...I just get so worked up 'cause I know every time I ain't just sellin' a design, I'm sellin' myself. So despite doin' my best to tune things out and de-stress with music. It just...it can't cut through the anxiousness and annoyance...

Gus: I'm guessing you're talking about having to prove yourself when folks see a wolf trying to pitch them a building design? 

Vernon: Unless it's a customer I've worked with before, it's always the same song and dance..." Oh, weird choice to have a wolf present the design to us..." er' "Hey, I said I wanted to meet the real architect!" *Vernon sticks his tongue out* Bleh. A lot of 'em don't wanna hear anymore after they find out I actually am the designer.

Dawn: *Hugs Vernon's leg* Aww...wolfy...

Vernon: Sorry, I sorta drove this off track a bit...just...y'know...I get frustrated...uh...anyway...what were we talkin' about?

Gus: Music energizing you?

Vernon: Right...well outside o' work...I mean, music ain't never got me so full of energy I really want to dance it out er' go fer a run. But it'll get me feelin' extra creative when I'm designin' a buildin' er' structure...and when I'm pushin' through some chore er' what not.

Dawn: I'm the same...I'm not really a big dancer or anything like that...but I feel so infused with creative energy when I hit a really good song while writing...it just makes the words pour out of me like water out of an exploding dam.

Vernon: Y'all sure you don't dance? Cause I know I've caught that wooly butt o' yers wigglin' when doin' some o' the chores while you got them earbuds in...

Dawn: Oh I'm aware, you've certainly 'goosed' me quite a few times while I was unaware...*Chuckles*

Vernon: A wolf's gotta hunt...*Laughs* Besides, can't pass up an excuse to dance with my Honey Lamb.

Dawn: Aww....Puppy, *Gestures the wolf to bend down* C'mere you. *Grips the sides of Vern's face and gives the wolf a deep kiss* MWAH!

Vernon: *Draws back and begins fanning himself with a paw*. This ewe's givin' me the vapors Gustav!

Gus: *Shakes his head, trying to stifle his smirk.* Sweet Sawgrass...you two should get a room already...and don't call me 'Gustav'...you know I hate it...

Melanie: You're only encouraging them. *Snickers*

Gus: Cervidwens Hooves, if it wasn't for the fact it was such a genetic long shot for you two to have kids in the first place, I'd wager you'd be eight litters deep by now.

Dawn and Vernon: *Laughing* 

Vernon: Alright, what about you two?

Gus: I'll admit, the right song can really get me going while writing a campaign setting. Or doing work around the store...though I'm not a dancer...like at all...

Melanie: I have to be half-way to drunk to think dancing is a good idea.

Dawn: So like at our reception them? *Dawn smirks*

Melanie: Hey! That wasn't my fault! *Laughs* I was the only not wolf drinking! Your brother-in-law didn't mix it right for someone my size! I didn't choose to be smashed!

Vernon: Hey I didn't mind, watchin' you dress Yuri down because he hadn't tied yer 'new best friend Ada' down yet was probably the funniest thang I'd seen all night...

Melanie: *Holds up a finger* While I was pretty smashed, my point still stood...That yeen is a goddess...waaay too good for him.

Vernon: Yeah, that's what my whole family says...'cept Yuri anyway *Chuckles*

Joel: Animalme soundtracks supercharge my life! 

Gus: Don't you spend most of your day in a chair making 3d models...

Joel: And playing visual novels!

Megumi: I prefer North Mammalian Rock...nothin' gets my blood charged like a wi-wicked? Wicked solo. Makes cleaning up our apartment or my store so much easier to get through. 

Broomie: I work out a lot now, but even before that music and my job were kind of inseparable, especially on the tougher days when I was really feeling wiped out. When I didn't think I could make the last few blocks worth of deliveries, or the weather just was too miserable, music always gave me the extra push I needed to power through. And it did the same during my...well entry to yoga with Talia.

Joel: Those must have been fuuuUUn...*The llama chuckles sarcastically*

Broomie: Aside from my job, I wasn't a big exerciser...and I certainly wasn't flexible in the slightest.

Vernon: To be fair, most of us ain't...fer me that's the other reason I never went into workin' police like my Pa wanted. Too much...fitness fer upkeep...

Gus: And that's why you've been doughy since high school. *Snickers*

Dawn: Hey, lay off my wolf...*Squeezes his slight gut affectionately.* I happen to be a real fan of dough...*Giggles*

Broomie: Talia didn't force me to like...keep up with her or anything. She didn't even force me into fitness...but she wanted me to be a part of her morning yoga routines and I...wanted to be a part of them too...even with that, most of my morning yoga with Tali is still low-impact...I ended up losing most of my weight for...um...*Blushes* Through other methods...

Gus: *Snickering* Broomie, you animal...

Broomie: Hey, unlike the other stuff, the bedroom was the one place I was determined to keep up! I was not letting Tali down!

Joel: So, did music help you power through or...?

Broomie: Shut up! *Laughs*

Ask the Ruminerds; Fursona and Shin Megamew Tensei

 

Gus: I think that's gonna be just Joel this time around...maybe Megumi too.

Joel: Well yeah, nobody among us is as into Animalme, and animalme styled games in this group except me...and Gus has a particular hatred of anything that takes place in a high school setting.

Gus: It's bottom-tier entertainment...I mean, if stuff set at a high school is always awful in North Mammalian movies and games, why does the same content in Japanda so praised?

Joel: Because instead of singing about how great Highschool is, they have guns and fight zombies or go to the underworld and stuff... it really doesn't compare.

Gus: I was done with High School when I graduated...and I never want to go back.

Melanie: Even if we have kids?

Gus: If we, by the grace of Hornunnus himself have kids, we are home-schooling them.

Joel: Suit yourself...hey, I like the series. it's fun, and playful.... a bit wacky too. I like that.

Megumi: Eh, I'm not big on series...ironically for similar reason to Gus...I'm just...tired of high school stuff...it bore me. I much prefer...fantasy stuff...or stuff that's in a not-so-common setting. So like Cowboy bebop, Full metal Alambist, the classic that is Dragon Maul and Dragon maul Z, that sorta stuff. So a game set in high school based animalme, regardless of supernatural elements just doesn't really appeal.

Joel: Paca plus is set in a high school! *Snorts*

Megumi: YES! I know that! But...it just hit me at right time! There are exception to rule sometime!

Joel: Pft...just sounds like hypocrisy to me...

Megumi: Someone is trying very hard to ensure they won't have warm red panda cuddles tonight...It's all going into my Haida pillow...none for Joel-kun.

Joel: Okay, you know as well as I do that's a total bluff...You want to snuggle as much as I do...you know my neck fluff is better than any Daki on the planet!

Megumi: *Glares at him fiercely before letting out a harsh sigh* Damnit, you see through it every time...you jerk!

Joel: Love you two my little Dakko kuma.

Ask the Ruminerds; Beastars

Joel: Look at this shameless self-promoter...I guess someone's looking for the Ruminerd's blessings...*chuckles*

Gus: More than likely looking for insight from the published author among us as to the quality of his work...

Dawn: I mean...I haven't read a fanfic since...probably college?

Vernon: *Flashes Dawn a dubious gaze* Lamb Fry?

Dawn: *Squirms in her seat* Well...maybe I've read a few here and there in the last few years...

Vernon: Floofs... *Says in a knowing tone*

Dawn: *An awkward bleat escapes her muzzle* A-and maybe wrote a few...back in college...

Vernon: C'mon now Honey Lamb...

Dawn: Okay, okay I was writing fanfics up until the whole Last Night incident...*crosses arms and pouts while throwing a glare Vernon's way.* Happy now?

Vernon: *Chuckles* Least yer bein' honest...

Melanie: Oooh...gossip gal! What kinda fics did you write? What media? *Melanie grins mischievously.* Were they steamy?

Dawn: I mean...yes...*Blushes* A-and I suppose...if you must know, they were largely uh...Fluffy the vampire slayer stuff, some Charmed...and maybe Supernatural in my college years...

Melanie: *Squeals in delight* Oh you gotta let me read them, those shows were my jam!

Dawn: *Cringes* Well I don't like...I mean that stuff is long gone...at least the stuff before college...It was too cringy...b-but I'm willing to share the other stuff so long as you don't tell a soul about.

Melanie: *Makes a cross on her chest with her hoof* Cross my heart and hope to die Dawn. I'll take them to the grave. *Chuckles*

Broomie: Eh...all writers gotta start somewhere...you should have been there to experience some of Gus' writing from his early games back in High School...phew...talk about cringe...

Gus: I'm right here you know...

Dawn: What were we supposed to be talking about anyway?

Joel: Beastars.

Vernon: That that Purrean soap opera? The one with the wolf and the rabbit?

Joel: Soap Opera? Ehhh...Purrean? No. It's a japandese mammanga adaptation.

Broomie: The one with the really pretty wolf girl?

Gus: *Squints at Broomie* And here I thought your attraction to wolves was limited to Talia. *Chuckles*

Broomie: *Sputters* I mean...I...

Vernon: *Chuckles* Ya opened a door that's purty hard to close huh?

Broomie: A-Anyway...er...me and Talia watch it...we like it...but she hates the rabbit...

Joel: Haru?

Broomie: Yeah, she says she's never felt the urge to maul a prey mammal before, but Haru awakens predatory instincts in her she almost forgot she had.

Dawn: I wasn't super interested in the series...

Vernon: Yeah, the guy...Leogshi, playin' the dumb wolf stereotype got old real fast...Fella seems too dumb to function at times.

Megumi: Oh yeah, he's a real moron. And he never develops as a character...he's just a baseline moron throughout.

Joel: It's so much worse in the Mammanga, you have no idea...it's like a train that goes off the rails, and for a while, you think it's going to be okay cause it's still sorta gliding next to the track slowly and no one's been hurt yet. Then it just dumps off the side of a steep cliff into a school bus, and they both tumble into a fireworks factory...all spectacle, no substance, and Juno gets the worst ending possible...Louis just completely walks back the entire series worth of character development and abandons her.

Broomie: FOR REAL!? AWWW...T-that! I don't know if I should be mad because you spoiled it, or mad because it's awful!

Gus: The second one, definitely.

Vernon: Eh...Louis is the deer right? Maybe it's them bein' afraid of goin' full hog with the predator/prey romance in a live-action type deal?

Gus: Sweet Sawgrass, Haru demands to see legoshi's penis at one point...I don't think that was the problem.

Melanie: I also...like...the sexual undertones are really weird too...like I mean first off...this is a fictional world where Predators eating prey is still absurdly common, and then there's like this weird...like they try to equate a predator's hunger to sexual desire...it gets really...rapey?

Dawn: Ew...yeah, glad we didn't get that far...

Vernon: That's real nice...sounds like the author has a fetish...

Gus: Or an agenda.

Joel: Look, if you want the seasoned Animalme veteran's take on it, Beastars was a promising-looking series with interesting, well-written characters that couldn't stick the landing with the plot which only unraveled more and more wildly as the series went on. It's a terrible shame...a real tragedy cause you don't see a lot of interspecies romance Mammanga's make it to the mainstream and get adapted into Animalme's or live-action shows in Japanda. Especially with a pred-prey coupling front and center.

Megumi: It true, it still sort of...shunned in my homeland. A lot of stodgy old tradition that we've weirdly come to take a personal point of pride in as hallmark of our 'unique culture' despite how miserable it make us. My Dad was...he actually passed away at just barely forty-one year old because he work way too hard as paper pusher in some dingy office job and the stress broke him.

Joel: Ah, he was a Karoshi?

Megumi: *Nods* He gave his life to that company. Slave away making himself miserable to support me and my mom, who were also miserable because we never got to see him. *Chuckles darkly* And at his funeral, his ex-boss had the audacity to describe him fondly as 'real company mammal'. *Gags* 

Vernon: Sweet Sawgrass that...that sounds real rough...

Megumi: *Chuckles* Let's just say I do not regret giving his face a good claw massage shortly after his speech. It was well worth the night in the police station.

Ask AU; Childhood Friends AU

 

Wasty: I think the difficult thing here...aside from bringing the ages in line, is figuring out how to have them all grow up in the same general area while still maintaining large elements of their initial upbringing. What I would probably do would be to drop everyone in roughly the same area, and the one that's most accommodating for everyone involved would be in between the North and South Meadowlands, with Nick living in the more suburban Southern Meadowlands, and Judy and her family being shifted up to the North Meadowlands either with them moving or having always lived there. I'd also shift over Gideon Grey and Sharla and her brother to keep Judy's Kithood mostly consistent.

Starting off, I think Dawn and Judy would become friends first, what with both being fairly small mammals. Considering young Judy's personality, I think she'd notice a very shy and timid Dawn and feel sort of compelled to befriend her. She'd also usually be the one to stick up for Dawn against bullies even if her efforts to do so were easily blow off by most mammals since she was just a 'weak little bunny'. Through that connection Dawn would also be befriended by Sharla, as Judy would have met the little black lamb before Dawn and brought her along. Vernon would come along shortly after, with the same situation occurring that brought them together in the first place, only this time there'd be a distinct difference. The bully would be Gideon Grey. I imagine Judy would miss school semi-regularly due to having to help with the family farm, which would end up leaving Dawn without a defender, and after several attempts on picking on the ewe spoiled by Judy going Hall Monitor on Gideon, the first absence since Judy started stepping in for Dawn would leave an opening to good for the fox to pass up. After all, the tod knew there was no way Sharla would step in without Judy. Sharla would run to the teacher to get help, but by the time she got help the situation would have already been handled by a certain grey wolf pup.

Vernon would still leap into the fray, pulling the same stunt he always did by recklessly fighting a bully, but he would more than likely win this one, as despite being a runt, he'd still be bigger than Gideon. The next day Dawn would introduce Vernon to Judy and Sharla and tell her about how he sent Gideon wailing for a teacher, and Vernon would immediately earn the rabbits' friendship. In a short time, Judy would become super enamored with Vernon's family after finding out just what they did, and would probably get to the point of driving Vernon and his brothers nuts by asking endless questions about real police work. As they grow up, she even develops a little kithood crush on Vernon's Dad for a while because he's just 'So COOL!" in her words. And unlike her own parents and most of those in the community, Dorian and the Hunters, (Save for Yuri), are super supportive of Judy's dream. Dorian even allows her to train with the boys, much to Yuri's annoyance.

Dawn and Vernon's friendship is still briefly broken up by Aster about a month after the trio unites. However, Dawn having multiple friends in school rather than just one wolf gives Clover the extra push she needs to leave her husband the night he breaks Dawn's friendship bracelets, (As there is now a bracelet from for both Vernon and Judy.) At that point, Dorian brings Clover and Dawn to the Hunter Ranch to stay while Clover files for divorce and looks to find a new home for her and her daughter. They end up staying a year before, with the help of Dorian and Judy's Parents, managed to find a small townhome relatively close to both the Hunter Ranch and the Hopps farm, thus allowing Dawn continued easy access to her friends.

Nick would come along later, shortly after the 'Ranger Scout' incident. I figure Nick's Mom would be a mixture of heartbroken and livid that her son was treated the way he was, but knowing she wouldn't be able to get anyone to do anything meaningful about it, and that Nick would still have to go to school with those kids that teased him, she calls on her cousin in the North Meadowlands and with their help quickly relocates her and her son out of the suburbs. That cousin is Gideon Grey's mother, and while part of the intent of moving Nick up there was so he'd be able to be friends with his second cousin Gideon, and have a fox friend, the pair immediately rub each other the wrong way. It doesn't help that they're forced to live under one roof while Nick's mom attempts to find a new job and a new home for the both of them.

Fairly quickly the two get in a fight after Gideon finds out that Nick is still holding on to some of his ranger scout uniform and teases him mercilessly over it, eventually sending Nick running out of the house in tears. Nick walks alone for a while, wandering the local roads of the North Meadowlands until he gets to a small bridge over a river. Nick, still crying considers tossing the last of his Ranger scout gear into the water when he's discovered by an awkward little billy goat who mistakes him for a new recruit to the scouts he hasn't met yet. After Nick reluctantly explains himself and what happened, the little goat refuses to let the young tod throw away his ranger gear, instead promising to get Nick into his own troop. This little billy, if you haven't picked up on it by now, is Gustav Hornsly. 

With Gus vouching for him, the fox is inducted, (reluctantly on the part of the den leader), into the North Meadowlands Ranger Scout Troop. Of course, that reluctance came more from his being related to notable troublemaker Gideon Grey more than anything. But being friends with the weird sickly little goat is bound to get you picked on, and thus a similar situation happens to that of the initial bathroom swirly scene where Gus met Vernon. Only now, Gus is quickly dropped in favor of Nick when the tod steps in to defend his friend. Of course, his charisma isn't enough to save him, and so the tod finds himself about to get the crap kicked out of him by a lumbering teenage cheetah when Vernon enters the bathroom and breaks the whole mess up. Nick tries to play off needing the wolf's help, but Gus undermines him by thanking the wolf for saving both their hides. Gus and Vernon become fast friends, with Nick tailing behind as the friend group is finally connected.

A lot goes on from that point in terms of character interaction. Gus and Vern start the school's BnB club together, dragging a reluctant Nick along with Dawn, Judy, Sharla, Broomie, Joel, and Claire. Judy ends up joining the ranger scouts and being one of the few mammals aside from Gus willing to work with Nick, the pair become fast friends. Dawn still briefly dates Gus in this timeline, and then the 'singles' prom situation plays out similarly, only now Dawn has a significantly larger female support group advising her as to what to do, and the same goes for Vern with his male support group. Of course, being friends with Claire, Dawn knows she has feelings for Vern and that does cause friction when Dawn develops her own feelings for the wolf. And as for Vern, you can bet Nick mercilessly teases Vernon over being a prey chaser. Of course, that's before actually going to the prom, and the wolf actually catching feelings for Dawn, at which point Nick is oddly sympathetic and encouraging.

Meanwhile, ol' Gideon Grey has been out of the picture for a while, at least in terms of picking on members of the group. It is only when he comes to see Nick and apologizes to him that everyone learns the chunky tod has been seeing a counselor and has mostly mended his ways. He apologizes to everyone in the group and is eventually absorbed into it. In the lead-up to prom, Gideon and Sharla really warm up to each other, but it still really shocks the group when Gideon asks Sharla to the prom, and even more shockingly she agrees. Naturally, this puts Sharla in the best position to really rally behind Dawn when her own romantic feelings for Vern begin to form, as well as makes her the best to confide in about her feelings next to Judy.

After graduation, Judy is the first to rocket into the local police academy, with both Dorian's training giving her a head start, and a written recommendation from the law wolf forcing a lot of the instructors to push aside their misgivings about a rabbit aiming to be a cop. According to Dorian, starting out in the North Meadowland Police would make for a great stepping stone to getting into the ZPD, a goal that the doe is eager to shoot for. By this point, Nick and Judy have become really close, and so she ends up encouraging him to follow along with her into the NMPD, and after some training with ol' Mam' Hunter, the fox signs up for the academy as well.

Vernon is reluctant to go into the police academy. He feels...sort of pigeonholed by his father to take up the work and definitely feels uncertain about the whole thing. But with two of his friends in the academy, the wolf decides to go for it. As for Dawn, encouraged by seeing all of her friends enter, especially Judy, and having endured the 'Hunter Family' police regiment herself, and done quite well in Dorian's eyes, Dawn follows swiftly along with her mate. While Vernon and Judy prove to be strong in the athletic portion of the training, Dawn, and Nick really shine in the more mental investigation and observation aspects of the work. The four are hired onto the NMPD shortly after graduation, and while Vernon and Dawn stay in the North Meadowlands and rise to the ranks of deputy. Judy transfers out to the ZPD about two years in, with Nick following shortly behind his partner. 

Though now separated, the four meet up fairly regularly and remain close friends even into the present. Although the four of them have begun to muse about the prospect of creating a private investigation business in Zootopia to run together. Whether that happens or not, who can say? It was a fun little tangent nonetheless.

Yearbook Transcript

Yo Gus, hope summer camp won't keep ya too busy. Me and Dawn are gonna really miss havin' ya around. Plus without you around to stem the flock, these ewe's 'er gonna eat me alive.

-Yer best friend "Sheepdog" A.K.A. Vernon Hunter

I'm sorry things didn't work out between us Gussy. I hope we can always stay best friends! See you after your Ranger Camp stuff.

-Dawn Bellwether

Howdy Gus, Sorry I'm not great at the BnB stuff! Still had fun though!

-Love, Sharla Baker

Thanks fer makin' me feel welcome after all I did ta most of ya. Thanks for the second chance.

-Gideon Grey

Hey Gus, have fun at Ranger Camp! Much Love,

-Claire Baahley

When you get back, you owe me a pocket mammals rematch!

-Yer Bud Dylan Broomie

Ey Shatterhorn, hate to admit it, but I actually had fun "playing pretend" with your other nerd friends in club. See ya in the Ranger Scouts Summer Camp. Heads up! I'm coming for that merit badge record!

-Nick P. Wilde - Your 'better' best friend.

Hey Ranger buddy! Looking forward to summer camp? I know I am! Hope you prep a campaign or two for the slow nights! I'm really digging this roleplaying stuff.

-Judy Hopps

Hey Dude, have fun at summer camp! Promise I'll have a bunch of Mamanga's to share when you get back! I swear to keep the porn ones to a minimum.

-Joel Pacal

(And here's a 'yearbook signage free' version of Gus' yearbook page for the BnB club. The characters are around 16 to 17 here.)